Dear WUSD Community:

Here in Windsor we are blessed with generally great weather. However, we still face days where it is hot or rainy/cold. In recent weeks, we have had a few hot days which has prompted dialogue on District policy. In previous years, we, similar to most other local districts, have always followed the guidance put out by the California Department of Education and the California Department of Health. That guidance was based on the CDC’s Heat Risk map, and assigned actions to different color/environment levels. However, those resources have at times not seemed to be indicative of actual conditions on the ground, for example, staying in the moderate range (which doesn’t trigger a change in activity) when the ambient temperature is over 100 degrees. 

In addition, Sonoma County tends to experience significant daily temperature shifts, even on hot days, so while morning recess or lunch might still be a manageable temperature, pick-up or after-school activities may find themselves in a high temperature environment. These two realities create a challenging environment to create firm, clear guidance for our staff and families. 

Finally, we as a District serve preschool through 12th grade students, and there is a wide level of self-advocacy in that age range. However, after consulting with our administrators, sites, and others, we have decided to create a more comprehensive set of guidelines for heat impacts.

• Elementary:

  • If the ambient temperature is shown to be between 86 and 89 degrees, we will consider the site to be under a Heat Advisory. Lunch, recess and outdoor activities will not be stopped, however we will monitor the situation and provide students who need it access to indoor or shaded space. 

  • At 90 degrees or above, we will be considered to be under a Heat Warning. Students will be kept indoors as much as possible; however, they may still be outside in shaded areas such as lunch spaces, and our open campuses mean they will occasionally need to walk outdoors between classes or when getting their snack or lunch. Play will be confined to indoor spaces.

  • Temperatures will be checked via weather.gov by the District three times a day, and families and staff will be notified by a ParentSquare Alert if a site is moving into an "Inclement Weather” plan. Due to the extreme temperature shifts occurring throughout the day, it is likely that a morning recess or even lunch recess will not fall under a Heat Warning, but afterschool programs and activities may. 

  • If we are moving to the Inclement Weather plan due to heat, access to classrooms will be provided, similar to the inclement weather plan for rain. 

• Secondary:

  • 6th grade and above will follow the guidelines set out by the California Interscholastic Federation found here: https://www.cifstate.org/governance/constitution/EXTREME_HEAT_AND_AIR_QUALITY_POLICY.pdf

  • A “wet bulb” temperature will be taken (per CIF guidelines)  to determine behavior related to PE classes, outdoor activities, and after school activities and practices. 

  • Wet bulb temperatures may be taken more than once per day, if it appears conditions are changing throughout the day. They could also be taken in different locations if deemed necessary.

Families, we strongly recommend that you also discuss with your children, of all ages, the importance of self-monitoring and self-care. Even the youngest student should be empowered to rest, get a drink of water, or ask for help if they are feeling hot or uncomfortable. Heat tolerance can vary widely among individuals, so your students should always feel comfortable to share their needs with staff and practice self-care.  You should also provide refillable water bottles as water stations are available at all sites.

We hope these guidelines provide clarity and peace of mind for staff, families and students. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Superintendent Jeremy Decker, jdecker@wusd.org.

Jeremy Decker

Superintendent

Windsor Unified School District